The Japanese Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again demonstrated outstanding achievement on the national stage through their participation in the Humanities Studies Competition: Badai Bungaku Taikai 2024. This competition, organized by the Japanese Literature Study Program at Universitas Brawijaya, was held online with participants from various universities across Indonesia.

In this competition, students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Zahra Athira Mumtazah and Oita Yolafina, achieved impressive accomplishments. Zahra Athira Mumtazah won 1st place in the Kamishibai contest, a traditional Japanese storytelling art that combines story and illustration. Zahra’s stunning performance earned her the top position in this category.

Meanwhile, Oita Yolafina secured 2nd place in the Shodou contest, the Japanese art of calligraphy that requires high skill and beauty in writing kanji characters. Oita’s expertise in creating beautiful calligraphy works received high praise from the judges.

The competition was conducted online using platforms such as YouTube and Google Form to submit entries. With this victory, it is hoped that it will inspire and motivate all students to continue developing their potential.

Writer: Yulia Agustiani
Editor: Valentina Pramahita Iswari

One of the staff of Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Akbar Rizqi Dhea Habibi, was invited by Progressive School Bumi Shalawat Sidoarjo to fill the Cross Cultural Experience activity on May 6-7, 2024. The activity was attended by Japanese Class extracurricular students. This activity consisted of a sharing session by Akbar Rizqi, accompanied by an international student from Japan, Yoshikawa Ryoga, who is studying at INCULS FIB UGM. The topic raised in the activity was discussing school life and environment in Japan and Indonesia. In addition, it was followed by a workshop and practice of writing Japanese calligraphy (Shuuji). In the sharing session, Akbar Rizqi provided in-depth insights on how to get a scholarship, learn Japanese language and culture, and shared experiences about school life and environment in Japan. There was also a sharing session by Yoshikawa Ryoga about his experience as a foreign student in Indonesia.

In addition to the sharing session, the event also included a workshop and practice of writing Japanese calligraphy, known as Shuuji. In this session, the participants were taught the basic techniques of writing Japanese calligraphy, which not only enriched their knowledge of Japanese art and culture, but also practiced their fine motor skills. This activity not only provided academic and cultural insights, but also strengthened the bond between students through collaborative activities. The Cross Cultural Experience went smoothly and left a deep impression on all participants. The students were very enthusiastic listening to the experiences and tips shared by the speakers, which are expected to motivate them to pursue study abroad opportunities, especially in Japan.

Pada hari Rabu 20 Maret 2024, Program Studi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Jepang (BKJ) mengadakan sosialisasi beasiswa Monbukagakusho/MEXT bersama Kedutaan Besar Jepang Jakarta dengan Fenny Gunadi yang merupakan Study Abroad Advisor dan First Secretary Kawakubo Yuriko Bagian Pendidikan Kedutaan Besar Jepang sebagai pembicara. Kegiatan ini diikuti oleh mahasiswa Prodi BKJ UGM dari berbagai angkatan.

Beasiswa Monbukagakusho atau MEXT adalah beasiswa Kementerian Pendidikan, Budaya, Olahraga, Sains, dan Teknologi Pemerintah Jepang yang ditujukan kepada akademisi dari luar Jepang dengan maksud ingin menempuh pendidikan di Jepang. Beasiswa tersebut terbagi kedalam berbagai tingkat pendidikan mulai dari tingkat Diploma sampai S3. Di jenjang Diploma terdapat dua pilihan beasiswa yaitu beasiswa Specialized Training College (Senshu) dan College of Technology (Kosen). Untuk S1 terdapat beasiswa Undergraduate (Gakubu). Sedangkan untuk S2 dan S3 terdapat beasiswa Research Student. Selain itu, terdapat program beasiswa non degree seperti beasiswa Japanese Studies untuk pertukaran mahasiswa dari jurusan Studi Jepang dan Teacher Training untuk guru Bahasa Jepang aktif di sekolah formal.

Bagi mahasiswa program studi Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Jepang, terdapat dua beasiswa yang bisa dimanfaatkan dan patut untuk dipahami alurnya. Beasiswa tersebut adalah Japanese Studies dan Research Student. Beasiswa Japanese Studies memiliki dua jalur penerimaan yaitu G to G (Government to Government) dan U to U (University To University). Pada alur G to G, mahasiswa akan melalui seleksi dengan dua tahap Screening. Tahap pertama (primary screening) adalah proses seleksi pendaftar dalam negara yang sama, lalu tahap kedua (secondary screening) adalah seleksi para pendaftar antar negara. Di lain sisi, alur beasiswa U to U dilaksanakan dengan universitas dari Jepang langsung menyeleksi pendaftar antar negara. Lalu untuk mahasiswa tingkat S2 atau S3, terdapat beasiswa Research Student dengan beberapa seleksi tambahan. Tidak hanya para akademisi, beasiswa juga terbuka kepada para pengajar bahasa Jepang yakni program Teacher Training selama delapan belas bulan. Program tersebut terbagi dengan enam bulan belajar Bahasa Jepang dan dua belas bulan pelatihan.

Dengan kesempatan yang dibuka oleh pemerintah Jepang, baik mahasiswa, akademisi, maupun pengajar dapat melanjutkan studinya ke Jepang secara cuma-cuma. Tidak hanya ilmu, pengalaman studi di Jepang tersebut akan menjadi daya jual tak ternilai bagi mereka yang berhasil mendapatkan kesempatan tersebut. Jadi, pengadaan sosialisasi ini diharapkan dapat mempersiapkan  mahasiswa yang berminat mendaftar beasiswa dengan lebih matang. Mari berjuang bersama.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the UGM Japanese Language and Culture Study Program held a socialization of working in Japan together with Marimo Group. The activity which was carried out on the basis of this collaboration was attended by representatives of Marimo Group, Manager of International Human Resource Development Marimo Holdings Inc. Kanakuchi Yuya and Tatang Hariri, Ph. D. as Head of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program along with final year students and alumni of BKJ Study Program.

The activity began with the introduction of Marimo Group to the socialization participants. Marimo Group is a company engaged in the property sector with headquarters in Hiroshima City, Japan which now has more than 21,000 mansion units throughout Japan. Currently, Marimo is opening opportunities for final year students or alumni of BKJ Study Program who are interested in working in Japan. Marimo can assist applicants in finding suitable jobs according to their interests and talents. Jobs that are generally in demand are in the field of translation and hospitality, but it does not rule out the possibility if you want to apply in a field that is not offered.

Being with Marimo as a partner in working abroad can certainly make a sense of security and comfort when working. Feelings of homesickness while working can also be relieved because, with connections from Marimo we can still meet with Indonesians. This good opportunity is expected to be utilized by academics and alumni to gain experience in the world of work.

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Japanese Language and Culture Study Program welcomed Yuki Murakami, a Master’s student in the Development Economics Study Program from Kobe University, Japan, as an intern. The internship lasted for sixteen days from February 13th to 29th, with Masato Nakahara, Ph.D., as the supervisor lecturer.

During his internship at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yuki Murakami participated in various academic activities, including assisting in teaching classes, correcting exercises, and attending academic program activities. As a teaching assistant in the Japanese conversation class (Kaiwa), Murakami explained and practiced how Japanese people speak well and naturally, from basic knowledge to Japanese speaking habits. Furthermore, in the Japanese Thought History class, he assisted the lecturer in explaining how Japan found solutions to catch up with other countries after the implementation of sakoku (鎖国), which was Japan’s policy of isolation from the outside world.

Throughout his two-week stay in Indonesia, the intern student who was also known as Murakami-san shared his interesting experiences. At first, he was worried that the classes he taught would be considered unattractive by students. However, he was surprised that the students were active in class and easily became friendly with him. For him, feeling warmly accepted in a new place is an unforgettable feeling. Likewise, for the students, Murakami’s contribution as an intern student in the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program for two weeks has been inspiring and has provided new insights which become an unforgettable experience for Japanese Language and Culture students.